Macbeth Group

Question:

qtdarcy
qtdarcy
Student
High School - 11th Grade

How does Macbeth's attitude toward the witches in Act 4 contrast with his first encounter with them? What does this show about his character?

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Posted by qtdarcy on Friday April 10, 2009 at 1:37 PM and tagged with attitude, character, contrast, deterioration, macbeth, reaction, witches.

Answers:


  1. katemschultz Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    At first, Macbeth was skeptical of what the witches had to say to him.  While it was interesting for him to hear (in the same way a good horoscope or fortune in a fortune cookie would be) he didn't pay it much mind.

    Now that he has taken it upon himself to become king and fulfill the other "prophecies" the witches have made, Macbeth is eager to hear more.  It's almost as if the witches' prophecies give him an excuse for commiting horrible deeds.

    Macbeth begins the play as a noble and loyal solider. He has now become power hungry and a believer in "black" magic.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/act-iv-summary-analysis

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    Posted by katemschultz on Friday April 10, 2009 at 7:10 PM